Sony & Naughty Dog have put out another Behind the Scenes video featuring the two new leads repeating the company talking points:

- We were finished with Nate's story (No you weren't; you forced an ending to it.)
- Chloe is a fan favorite
- People really liked Nadine. A lot. (If you keep repeating it, I guess people will accept the idea.)
- This is the biggest level we've ever done.

They are very different to other characters in the franchise, too, which makes The Lost Legacy feel particularly fresh. Chloe doesn’t have a semblance of Nathan Drake’s righteous hero complex, and, put in a stressful situation, her main priority is self-preservation. She’s much darker and more malicious, and that’s part of what makes her relationship with Nadine feel unpredictable, and what has me so interested. While most of the banter I encountered between the two seemed to be a unique brand of flirty, Nadine, a careful strategist, often seemed to get irate at Chloe’s more brash, impulsive decision making, and Chloe didn’t seem to care. Naughty Dog even told us that there were multiple revisions to the general, chatty dialogue between the two characters, to prevent them from being too "friendly".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alanah Pearce

...with an opening dynamic that feels more like The Last of Us than what I'm used to seeing in Uncharted.

Except The Last of Us's tonality is the exact wrong thing to bring to Uncharted. Uncharted is pulp. It needs to flow and breathe, not get bogged down in moroseness.

I still don't get why they keep forcing Nadine on all of us. I've met very few players who thought she was a great character and ultimately she was inconsequential to the overall story. I also wouldn't mind a more lighthearted approach, similar to the first two games. I have enough dark and overly-serious games---let's see some fun and wit come into the series again.

That being said, I'm excited for the game and having Chloe take the lead should be interesting.

I would like to write more, but for now, the idea of completely ditching the supernatural elements of Uncharted is dumb. I'm all for trying different things out, but the removal of [the supernatural] in order to be more "believable" or "grounded" is a poor excuse. Preternatural elements are something of a hallmark of the genre; you're not looking for "realism". A realistic game ends up with Nate dying from a shattered leg/pelvis/whatever after failing a jump. Or thoroughly ventilated by a squad of trained mercenaries armed with fully automatic weapons.

You're kind of putting up a strawman here. I'm not suggesting the game should be realistic in the sense that life is not an action movie, I'm saying that the central mythology of the plot actually felt plausible in terms of the history, locations, etc., and that for me, that was a huge improvement over things like the Nazi Zombies that popped up in previous games. I really felt invested in seeing where they were going to take the narrative precisely because it didn't have as many of those cheesy eye-roll moments. To each their own though, of course. If the pulpy camp is what you enjoy about the series, obviously you'll see it differently. I thought it was a fantastic story overall, and really loved that they toned down a lot of what had turned me off about the previous games in terms of both story elements and gameplay (less shooty shooty bang bang.)

Oh wow, that kind of reminds me of Uncharted 2 and Drake hanging from the plane. I can imagine we are probably going to get some very iconic set pieces from this.

Among Thieves was the train; Drake's Deception was the plane!

And based on this thirty second teevee spot, it certainly looks like the helicopter sequence features in the game in some capacity.

On a related note, I was recently lamenting on how... bland the packaging for Uncharted has become following Drake's Fortune. Deception was by far the worst, but the steelbook was a nice touch. The Lost Legacy is set to take that crown though; it's really uninspired. But look at this thing they sent out to the press!

Note: The following unboxing video (also one of the dumbest things ever) is in filthy, filthy French.

The principle art is still completely generic, but that's a very nice set. The blu-ray graphic is especially nice. Too bad they're only for the press or the sucker who wants to drop five hundred bucks over at eBay.

This site is also in French but has put up still shots instead of video if you're interested.

Yesterday Naughty Dog showed off some footage of their upcoming Survival Arena mode. It looks decent and it's something that should have been in the game since its release. I've haven't played the multiplayer in a while but this might actually get me to come back for a bit.

Yesterday Naughty Dog showed off some footage of their upcoming Survival Arena mode. It looks decent and it's something that should have been in the game since its release. I've haven't played the multiplayer in a while but this might actually get me to come back for a bit.

I played survival mode a bit on uncharted 4 and it was pretty cool. Granted I always had a bit of a problem with other players trying to be lone wolves or not healing me but thats every multiplayer game in existence pretty much.

Yesterday Naughty Dog showed off some footage of their upcoming Survival Arena mode. It looks decent and it's something that should have been in the game since its release. I've haven't played the multiplayer in a while but this might actually get me to come back for a bit.

I played through Survival when it was originally released -- completed it -- and never bothered with it again. It wasn't the horde mode I thought it was or should have been. It felt like a series of time trials with some terrible bullet sponges for enemies, but after watching some of their Twitch stream earlier I'm intrigued.

I'll give it a shot when I pick up The Lost Legacy, but I doubt it'll get more than a cursory play through. I haven't even bothered with A Thief's End multiplayer component outside of Survival. Any word on trophy support?

Anyway! There's been one more (final) trailer released. There isn't much that's new other, and the talking heads keep repeating themselves.

I'll give it a shot when I pick up The Lost Legacy, but I doubt it'll get more than a cursory play through. I haven't even bothered with A Thief's End multiplayer component outside of Survival. Any word on trophy support?

I haven't heard anything yet but I wouldn't be surprised if they toss in a few with the next update.

And it was a great deal! Getting a fully featured Uncharted game for twenty bucks is... well, a steal! Especially since The Lost Legacy is getting pretty good reviews overall. I was tempted, but, as a rule, I don't buy DLC sight unseen. I went all in with the Fortune Hunter thing that came out with Drake's Deception and felt burned by the whole thing. I'll pay the extra money once I know what I'm supposed to be getting.

Back when they were called Expansion Packs I was more inclined to give companies the benefit of the doubt.

For everybody else though, Sony & Naughty Dog dumped a whole series of vignettes on the 'net. Word on the street is that the launch trailer spoils some late game stuff, so be careful with you're viewing if you want to go in as unspoiled as possible.

There are also some character videos out as well, but I'm staying away from these too. Well, except this one. Chloe is best girl.

You can find one for the game's villain, Asav, over here and the terrible no good Nadine has one here.

This one about 'expanding' the combat options doesn't show anything we haven't seen already. The developers do mention that you'll be able to completely bypass (some?) action sequences. With the doubling down on stealth options, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Despite being fairly ubiquitous in modern games, I like the addition of lockpicking. It has potential to be a positive addition to the series if it isn't actually relegated to just opening crates out in the wild.

I'm glad to see so many positive reviews. I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers but so far it looks very promising. I can't wait for my copy to arrive tomorrow (along with Season 2 of Ash vs. Evil Dead).

I'm glad to see so many positive reviews. I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers but so far it looks very promising. I can't wait for my copy to arrive tomorrow (along with Season 2 of Ash vs. Evil Dead).

Me too, I am debating on whether or not to consult a guide for this time around with the game. I might do a run without a guide, and a second run with a guide so I can 100 percent it and find all the treasures.

Me too, I am debating on whether or not to consult a guide for this time around with the game. I might do a run without a guide, and a second run with a guide so I can 100 percent it and find all the treasures.

I usually have to use a guide to find all the treasures, as some are pretty much impossible to find without it. I like to play through the game and find as many as I can on my own, then consult a guide on my second playthrough to help me find the ones I missed.

I know that there are at least... four people around who should be playing this.

Are they? Have they beaten the game already? I'm at Chapter 4,The Western Ghats. Instead of actually progressing in the game, I've spent the past couple of days driving around the ghats and enjoying the sights.

This is probably the most... alive/lived in/whatever location Naughty Dog has had yet.

Games Radar has a couple of interesting articles up for the game already. They're unread by me so far --they contain spoilers -- but I'll get back to them once I beat The Lost Legacy.

The first article seems to think that Chloe Frazer is a better tomb raider than Lara Croft has ever been.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Loveridge

Think about female video game icons and one name constantly springs to mind: Lara Croft. Despite fierce competition, as creators increasingly give us more and more relatable heroines, it's the original Tomb Raider who remains the original Lady of Gaming... until now.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy might have started out life as a simple story DLC pack for Uncharted 4, but it’s now morphed into a standalone game, complete with new protagonist - Chloe Frazer. Gone is the masculine charm and rugged good looks of Nathan Drake, instead replaced with a character that might just be the best game heroine we’ve had in decades (sorry Aloy).

They also have an interview with the actress behind Chloe, Claudia Black.

It also won't be read by me until later, so be mindful of spoilers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel Weber

With treasure hunter Chloe as its hero, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy was never going to be boring, but damn did that game know how to bring the feels as well as the archaeological action. By partnering up our favorite rebel with the kick-ass mercenary Nadine we got to see Chloe at her very best, and even glimpse the gooey middle hiding under the hard as nails shell.

So much of the success of the story rests on the performer that gives Chloe her soul, and that's Claudia Black. Star of Stargate SG-1, Farscape and Pitch Black as well as basically every massive game you've ever loved, she's played Chloe since the character first appeared in Uncharted 2. Chatting to her on the phone in Los Angeles, you quickly realize she's whip smart and just as in love with Chloe as the biggest Uncharted fan ever could be.

I'm a couple hours in and just enjoying exploring the Western Ghats. It's beautiful and much like the Madagascar level in Uncharted 4, I'm having fun driving around and poking in every nook and cranny. It's a blast!

I usually have to use a guide to find all the treasures, as some are pretty much impossible to find without it. I like to play through the game and find as many as I can on my own, then consult a guide on my second playthrough to help me find the ones I missed.

I've never platinum-ed an Uncharted. While I love the characters, stories and gameplay, I loathe collect-a-thons. I've tried going back over the years, but, no, I can't do it. They're ridiculous. Despite the addition of the Hoysala tokens, The Lost Legacy isn't much better. It could be though.

While Uncharted doesn't need to devolve into edutainment, the collectible treasures littered throughout the game could be used to offer the random factoids (as the modern gamer is largely illiterate).

For example, early in the game you find a Jade Archer's Ring. It's not the deep green normally associated with jade, though. It's nearly white; if not actually white. This would be a good time to let players know that, while white jade exists naturally, it's believed the imperial/emerald green color will fade to white after ~1,000 years.

Or the Bronze Deccan Incense Burner. The ghats form the western border of the Deccan Plateau, thus The Western Ghats*, and that plateau gave rise to the majority of India's most celebrated empires. In this case, I have to assume the incense burner is from one of the Deccan sultanates.

* - A ghat is typically defined as a series of steps leading to a large body of water, typically a river, but is also used to identify specific mountain ranges.

It would make the treasures worth going back and collecting.

Anyway.

I just began Chapter 8 after ~7 hours. An hour of that has been spent standing around looking at stuff, another hour or so collecting Hoysala tokens, and another hour mucking about with the jeep.

Since I only play a little bit at a time it will probably take another couple of days before I can beat it.

I do agree that I wish the treasures carried some informational weight. That's an element that the new Tomb Raider games excel at --- I love hearing Lara's explanations and history behind the artifacts.

After several hours I'm STILL in the Western Ghats. I'm just soaking it up and exploring all over the map. I think I'm about done with the section (collected all of the remaining tokens last night) but I'm digging these large, open maps that they've used in the last couple games.

Since I only play a little bit at a time it will probably take another couple of days before I can beat it.

Whoops! I kept meaning to stop last night, but ended up beating it.

I know, right? How do you 'accidentally' beat a game? Well, I thought I would have another chapter where I could stop, but then it was over!

It looks like it took me around ten hours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Saboteur

I've never platinum-ed an Uncharted

This may change too. I make a point to never look at trophy lists until after my first playthru of anything, but after looking at the list, it seems eminently doable. I managed to find most of the treasures on the first go through, so that's certainly something!

Speaking of trophies, I appreciate good trophy art. While Naughty Dog's art is... still only okay I deeply enjoy the traditional Indian color palette. It's great. I especially like how the background doesn't seem quite solid; it's almost like the powdered dye commonly used during Holi or even in mandala construction.

Thumbs up there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyBuff

I do agree that I wish the treasures carried some informational weight. That's an element that the new Tomb Raider games excel at --- I love hearing Lara's explanations and history behind the artifacts.

That's definitely a place where the new Tomb Raider excels. Full voice would be nice, but I would be satisfied with a couple of paragraphs of text. It feels especially egregious this time around because the game almost has a full running commentary on aspects of Hinduism throughout.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyBuff

After several hours I'm STILL in the Western Ghats. I'm just soaking it up and exploring all over the map. I think I'm about done with the section (collected all of the remaining tokens last night) but I'm digging these large, open maps that they've used in the last couple games.

I thought I was being thorough, but I missed several photo opportunities in the ghats as well as a couple of crates. I'm going to have to go through that area again soon.

Finally wrapped up Chapter 4 last night and I'm well into Chapter 5. I'm loving the puzzles and decided to save the rest of that section for later tonight. I prefer to play Uncharted games at a snail pace, making them last as long as possible.

I can't wait to play more this evening and I'm really enjoying Chloe as the lead. I do miss the sarcasm and random cries of "Crap!" that Drake was famous for, yet Chloe holds her own and I'm no less immersed in the game just because there's a different character. I really wouldn't mind seeing more games with Chloe as the star.

Finally wrapped up Chapter 4 last night and I'm well into Chapter 5. I'm loving the puzzles and decided to save the rest of that section for later tonight. I prefer to play Uncharted games at a snail pace, making them last as long as possible.

I tried to go as slowly as I could, but the last couple of chapters seemed to go by really quick. There wasn't really a good place to stop I thought, but (and this is a strong point in it's favor), I immediately went in and started playing it again. I haven't felt compelled to do that since Among Thieves.

Seeing these guys in the temple was great too. Though, I wish they would have been referred to as Hanuman langurs* instead of grey langurs. And while you can't quite tell here, they're the size of a small dog. That's damn big for a monkey.

* - Hanuman langurs have the largest distribution across almost the entirety of the Indian sub-continent. Why Hanuman? They are sacred to Hindus because they're believed to be the monkey god's physical representation Earth.

The kind folks over at Artstation Magazine have put up an art dump from The Lost Legacy. Most of it features the spectacular background art for the various locations, but there is some character art as well.

There are some possible spoilers in the images as well, so please take note when browsing! If you don't care, then go right ahead! The environment is a real standout this time around.